The verdict in three sentences
In Bath, the pool of local web agencies is small, and an engineering and construction firm working on listed Georgian buildings is really comparing a Bath studio, a Bristol agency, a London heritage-sector agency and a remote studio. For a 15 to 30 page references and careers site, Kolonell at £3,900 (Growth) or £6,900 (Premium) covers the need in 3 to 4 weeks once content is ready, while the agencies approached typically quote £8,000 to £25,000 as a 2026 ballpark. What tips the balance towards local is physical presence: visits to occupied buildings, workshops with partners, sensitive shoots inside private homes.
How many providers are there really in Bath, and where do firms look?
Bath is a small city, inscribed as a whole as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the agencies able to run a bespoke technical site there are few. In practice, many firms widen the search to Bristol, a quarter of an hour away by train, or to London for agencies that know the heritage sector.
| Provider | Where | 2026 ballpark | Typical lead time | Fit for a heritage practice? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freelance web designer | Bath or Somerset | £4,000 to £8,000 | 6 to 10 weeks | yes if the scope stays simple |
| Small studio | Bath | £7,000 to £14,000 | 8 to 12 weeks | yes, limited availability |
| Agency | Bristol | £9,000 to £20,000 | 8 to 14 weeks | yes, trips to Bath to agree |
| Heritage-sector agency | London | £15,000 to £25,000 | 12 to 16 weeks | yes, often oversized |
| Kolonell Growth | remote | £3,900 | 3 to 4 weeks | yes for a references site with a blog |
| Kolonell Premium | remote | £6,900 | 3 to 4 weeks | yes with advanced animation and the multilingual tier (languages set in the quote) |
These ranges reflect typical quotes and public rate pages from UK agencies; they are not guaranteed prices. The £2,300 Starter (5 pages) is too short to present references by type of work. Tier details on the international offer page.
What does a heritage structural practice need from its website?
A practice that stabilises Bath stone façades, strengthens timber floors or deals with vaults under the pavement does not sell with pictures of cranes. Its clients are private owners of listed houses, conservation architects, refurbishment developers, cultural institutions and local authorities. The site therefore needs:
- references by type of defect and repair, with photos approved in writing by the owner and no identifiable address for private homes;
- a general explanation of the consent process for listed buildings (listed building consent) and the engineer's role alongside the architect, with no promise of outcome;
- a careers page: conservation engineering is a rare skill, and attracting one young engineer interested in heritage justifies the site on its own;
- a document library for prequalification packs requested by public or institutional clients;
- a general health and safety page, notably on working in occupied buildings;
- team pages where professional titles appear only for those who hold them;
- fast pages that read well on a tablet in a cellar or under a roof.
Legal frame: UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 overseen by the ICO for forms and job applications, PECR for cookies and marketing email, the Equality Act 2010 with a WCAG 2.2 AA target. This is not legal advice.
What does each scenario cost over three years?
A Bristol agency scenario (mid case) against a Kolonell Growth scenario. Market maintenance is an assumption, not a Kolonell price.
| Line | Bristol agency | Kolonell Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Build | £9,500 | £3,900 |
| Photography over 3 years (third-party cost, local photographer) | £2,400 | £2,400 |
| Support for the first 3 months | often included | included |
| Maintenance months 4 to 36 (market assumption, £120 per month) | £3,960 | on quote |
| Content updates through the CMS | in-house | in-house |
| Total known costs | £15,860 | £6,300 + maintenance on quote |
When is the local agency the better choice? Decision checklist
Choose a Bath or Bristol agency if you answer yes to at least two of these:
- Do you want three or more in-person workshops with the partners?
- Must the site launch with a film shot inside occupied private homes, where the owner's trust depends on regular presence?
- Does the project include a complete new brand identity?
- Does an institutional client require local suppliers?
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
If the answer is no across the board, a remote studio is enough: the Kolonell project manager is reachable during UK office hours, copywriting is in native English, and photos go to a local architectural photographer paid directly by you. In every case, require in writing that the domain is registered in the firm's name, that the code and photos belong to you, and that a full export is handed over at the end of the contract.
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Eleanor Pryce, principal of a 6-person Bath practice specialising in structural and conservation engineering for Georgian houses and listed public buildings. A Bristol agency quotes £9,500. Studio route: Kolonell Growth at £3,900, plus 1.5 days of a local architectural photographer at £800 per day, so £1,200 in third-party cost; total £5,100, which is £4,400 less. Eleanor plans 12 hours to write the reference notes; valued at £85 per hour internally, that is £1,020, the same in both scenarios. She uses the gap to fund a targeted recruitment advert.
FAQ
Are there enough agencies in Bath to compare three quotes?
It is possible but the choice is narrow; most firms add Bristol or a remote studio. Allow 2 to 3 weeks to get three comparable quotes.
How do we show private homes without exposing the owners?
Written consent, no address, interior framing that cannot be identified. Allow 10 to 15 minutes per project for sign-off.
Which tier for a 5 to 10 person practice?
Growth at £3,900 is usually enough; Premium at £6,900 makes sense with advanced animation or the multilingual tier.
What happens after the 3 months of support?
Kolonell maintenance is on quote. Compare it with the market assumption of £100 to £200 per month.
How quickly can the site go live?
3 to 4 weeks of build once content is ready, so 6 to 7 weeks including reference writing and photography.
Let's scope your project. A heritage references, careers and documents site for a Bath practice, from £3,900 to £6,900, delivered in 3 to 4 weeks. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.